Amjad Stages Pakistan Open Comeback

Former champion Amjad Khan has staged a mighty comeback to force his way into today's first round of the Bank Alfalah Pakistan Open in Islamabad.

The 24-year-old from Peshawar, a nephew of Pakistan's legendary Jansher Khan and Pakistan Open champion in 1998, has not competed in a PSA Tour event since the COAS International in Islamabad in January 2003 - and has not won a match on the Tour since beating Welshman Alex Gough in the first round of the Pakistan Open in March 2002.

The unranked Kahn made his breakthrough in the first qualifying round, defeating compatriot Farrukh Zaman, the world No54, in four games. In the qualifying finals, the former world No12 beat fellow countryman Khawaja Adil Maqbool 11-6 11-9 11-8 in 33 minutes - and is drawn to meet Australia's sixth seed Joseph Kneipp in the first round of the main draw.

Australian David Palmer is seeded to follow his third British Open title success last month with his maiden Pakistan Open triumph in Islamabad. The world No4 takes on Pakistani qualifier Khayal Muhammad in the opening round - and is expected to meet England's No2 seed Nick Matthew in the final.

Qualifying finals:
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Zubair Ali Khan (PAK) 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 (27m)
Khayal Muhammad (PAK) bt Majid Khan (PAK) 11-2, 11-10 (2-0), 8-11, 11-7 (48m)
Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 4-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-2 (44m)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Gavin Jones (WAL) 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (3-1) (54m)
Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) 11-9, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (43m)
Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Wakeel Khan (PAK) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (18m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Saeed Hassan (PAK) 11-9, 11-9, 11-1 (18m)
Amjad Khan (PAK) bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (33m)